Grassroots Maindee Project

Grassroots Maindee Project

August 2006

boosting confidence and self-esteem

developing a sense of local and global community

stimulating youngsters to present issues important to them

using African music, dance, language and drama

Grassroots Theatre for Development, a company of six actors, dancers and musiciansfrom Zimbabwe, ran a week-long local youth and community development workshop atCommunity Housein Maindee, Newport, during the summer holidays of 2006.

Theystimulated participants to dramatiselocal issues that were important to them and also to celebrate and educate about Zimbabwean culture; thereby providing a contrast of cultures and an awareness of difference and communality.

The sessions ran for three hourseach day, Monday to Thursday, with up to 40 primary school children and some older taking part, learning to relate to each other and to their African tutors.

Short sketches were developed to illustrate the issues the youngsters had identified as affecting them. These included litter, bullying, drugs and racism. At the Finale on the Friday,Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West, contrasted this by saying that a survey in South Africa had identified the main issues concerning many children there as having enough food to eat or whether their parents would die of AIDS.

The final day consisted of practice and then a presentation to family, friends and the Mayor and Mayoress of Newport, community representatives, the South WalesArgus and local politicians. This was supplemented by songs, dance and costumes portraying Zimbabwean rural life.

Theadditional “girls only” session mid-week, sharing African, Asian and Welsh games, dance and culture with EDGE Club girls, facilitated access for all in this culturally diverse community.

Theprojectparticipants were a diverse group of children: white Welsh, African and Asian. Each day was a revelation to us all. Grassroots had our attention immediately with powerful and melodious singing, dancing and talking.

The participants played games, learned a few core songs in Ndebele which were practiced daily. These were accompanied by actions to represent the daily life of a Zimbabwean/ African child from a traditional background. The respect Grassroots had for this way of life was passed on to the participants.

One African-Indian parent related to me and her children that she too had had a similar way of life growing up in Africa. Further comments and quotes included are from the feedback forms from both adults and children at theend of the week.

At the first day’s evaluation session, a request was made for traditional African food and costumes. Consequently the sessions included costume-making, with food on the final day.

The tasks were small and manageable to cater for all levels of ability. “Everyone was catered for regardless of culture” too. The costume-making was a great success. One girl even braided her hair to make her feel and look more African.

The participants wereearly every day and very keen to participate. A parent commented that her girls “happily woke up on time and wereeager to participate in your project”, because they were“learning about a new culture which they shared at home. And confidence through drama, dance and singing”.

The children refined their performances to make them “beautiful”. Many parents weresurprised by “theenergy” and “how much they learnt in such a short period of time”.

Much of the audience felt that it was important to learn from the dramatic sketches and that they should be“taking that message and respecting it”. This project “was a chance for the children to learn about important issues that they faceeach day within an environment that allows them to become involved in differing cultures”.

“The children have been completely absorbed with what they have learned this week. A big thank you”. A resounding accolade to the weeks work.

The final day was a flurry of activity in order to be ready for the performance. Food was cooked and performances refined.

Family, friends and dignitaries wereearly. The performance began on time and Grassroots and the children had us all mesmerised from the start. They came in singing, performed according to their ability and left singing. The African day was interspersed with sketches of a Welsh day providing a contrast for the audience to see. Everyone then went on to fill in Evaluation Forms and sharesome food and drink.

“The food was also delicious. (I was surprised by) the level of enthusiasm of all the children, (also) how much they learnt in such a short spaced time”. One family felt that their child had changed abit by “building in his confidence and making new friends”. Another’s visiting“4 year old son really enjoyed the singing, dancing and music”.

One parent suggested that a further development of the project could be“to perform individually eg. sing a Chinese song”, to reflect her homeland culture. His “daughter made new friends”. The project “gave her this opportunity”. He was “deeply impressed with this type of community work”and hopes to take the video he recorded back to China next year.

Theevaluations were positive and all the children were pleased to have taken part in this project. One significant participant enjoyed the first day so much that all his brothers and cousins took part during the week. Through this project, he felt “a lot happier about being African”.

The project was scored highly by the participants and many enjoyed “the dancing”, the African “drumming” and speaking “in another language”. Many children had not spoken to,nor mixed with,‘African people’ and knew little of “the African way of life”. There were many requests for Grassroots to come back next year.

Many commented that they had gained confidence. One girl was pleased because she got to “talk to people I never talk to”. One boy didn’t “feel like being so naughty!” Another wanted “to do more dancing and speak in your (Ndebele) language”.

One family was pleased because“we wereeducated by the difference of living standards, Western and the South African people, and learned that our children now felt how lucky they are to live in the Western world”.

Some parents were surprised by “the way the children of all different backgrounds and nationalities bonded as a group in such a short period of time- fantastic to see”.

“It is important to teach children the right message at a young age ie.respect for theenvironment and other people of all ages and creed. People are not born bullies or racists, it’s theenvironment that they are brought up in”. A comment from one member of the audience.

Many felt that there was “no room for improvement in my opinion- first class”. Overall,it was a very positive week and project. Is there a possibility of another next year?

Tanveer Siyan, Community House
Ingrid Wilson, IDEAS

Project hosted by Maindee Community Association.

Planning and supervision involved several local NCC development workersincluding

Lana Pearce from Community Development, Deborah Jones from MaindeePrimary School, Mike Pugsley from Sports Development, Sally Lewis and Nick Cadman from Arts Development, with Tanveer Siyan from Community House Presbyterian Churchand Ingrid Wilson of IDEAS.

Financial support gratefully received from: NCC Children and Young People’s Partnership, NCC Community Development, Newport Unlimited, GAVO and MaindeePrimary School.

Further info about Grassroots Theatre for Development from: info from email: or mobile: 07976 267367

Newport Children and Young People’s Partnerships

DELIVERING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Selected Aims and Entitlements covered by the Maindee Grassroots Project

Aims

1. Have access to play, leisure & cultural activities

1. Have a safe community that supports physical and emotional well-being
2. Have access to a range of learning opportunities, including acquisition of essential social skills
3. Are listened to with respect and are able to have their race and cultural identity recognised

Entitlements

ActivitiesRecreational and social opportunities in a safe and accessibleenvironment

Artistic and musical experiences to develop talents

ParticipationThe right to be consulted, to participate in decision-making and to be heard on matters which concern them or have an impact on their lives.